Article by
Barbados Today

Published on
August 3, 2012

Twenty-six year old,Danielle Gibson
emerged winner of the United Nations Development Programme/Red Cross Spice It Up Song Competition held at the St. Leonard’s Boys’ School auditorium, last Saturday.
Singing an original song Spice It Up, she co-penned with friends Nisha Reid and Richard Welch, Gibson took home an iPad3, $1,000 and a G-Shock watch.
The competition was a region-wide UNDP Youth-IN and Barbados Red Cross initiative called Spice It Up – Sing for Preparedness, which focused on encouraging youth to not only volunteer for Non-Governmental Organisations, but to assist in preparing for any natural or man-made catastrophes across the Caribbean.
The remaining contestants who placed in the top three, earned a cash prize of $600 and $400 respectively donated by the Barbados Light & Power and also received watches from the Royal Shop.
Second place went to Jaydee Bourne of Combermere School whose song was called Be Prepared third spot fell to Jodi Massiah who just graduated from The St. Michael School and plans on attending the Barbados Community College’s Mass Communications programme. Her tune was Wake Up.
Gibson said her win heralded a return to singing, something which she missed while in her day job as a marketing assistant at a West Coast hotel.
She pledged that the first prize would be divided fairly with (Nisha) Reid (who was part of the horn section for Danielle’s performance) and (Richard) Welch who helped write the winning song.
Remaining humble in victory, she said, even if the iPad is to be sold and the funds shared, she would do it.
Gibson also said the tune was not empty words.
“I actually get my family to store suitcases with bottled water, canned goods and other necessities in case we need to move in a hurry,” she said.
And, she said this was always a possibility since she lives in the flood-prone Kingsland/Wotton district of Christ Church.
During the intermission, Alison Hinds, Barbados’ own Queen of Soca, came out and kept the crowd begging for more. With backing vocalists Indra Rudder and Rena Pilgrim, Hinds gave the audience a rendition of her anthem of female empowerment Roll, as well as Independent Woman plus the infectious Basodie.
Also keeping the audience on the edge of their seats was the group known as ESA (an acronym based on their first names) from the Grenadian Secondary School of GPSS, who were part of the finalists in the Spice Isle’s leg of the contest — and showed why, when they unleashed their Be Prepared for a delighted audience.
Rico Snakey St Paul only 18 and the Soca Monarch of Grenada, flew into Barbados to deliver his winning tune.
Lara Blanco, UNDP Deputy Resident Representative told Barbados TODAY, that youth volunteering for community projects presents many opportunities for young people to make valuable contributions in society.
She said however,